BMW Engine Temperature Too High [Explained]

You can be pretty scared when you receive an alert on your BMW that says, “Engine Temperature too high, drive moderately.”.

A hot engine can cause permanent damage to it, so you don’t want it to overheat.

What causes your dashboard to show this message, and how do you fix it?

This article will explain exactly why that is the case; let’s get started!

Table of Contents

What does BMW “Engine Temperature Too High” mean?

There are a lot of things you can learn about the vehicle from this BMW warning message. What does it really mean? Let’s find out.

It essentially warns you that your BMW engine is getting too hot when it displays the “engine temperature too high” alert.

There is a cause for this, and it is that the engine has become overheated before it has been cooled down again by the air outside and the coolant inside, so that your cooling system is not doing its job properly.

BMWs have engine temperature sensors or coolant temperature sensors as part of their cooling system.

Coolant temperature is monitored by this sensor, which is located inside your BMW engine.

As soon as the ECT reaches a certain level, your dashboard will show this warning.

Table of Quick Fixes for BMW Overheating

Cause	Fix
Closed thermostat	Make sure the thermostat is replaced. Depending on the BMW model, the location varies. A mechanic or owner’s manual is recommended.
Pump with a bad electric motor	Water pump should be checked. A professional BMW mechanic or BMW dealership should replace it if it malfunctions.
Sensor(s) for cooling fluid temperature are malfunctioning	Coolant temperature sensors should be replaced if the engine temperature is correct.
Low Coolant Level	Make sure the coolant level is correct after turning off the engine and letting it cool. You may need to add antifreeze and distilled water as needed.

Why does BMW Engine Temperature Too High Warning appear?

Detailed explanations of why the BMW Engine Temperature Too High message appears for the first time will be presented here, so you can resolve the problem.

My own experience from working on BMWs over the years has taught me that this warning light can be triggered by many different things.

This warning can be caused by the following causes:

1. A stuck thermostat:

An overheating thermostat is most commonly responsible for this warning.

By opening and closing a bypass valve, the thermostat regulates the flow of coolant to the engine in your Beamer.

In the event that your thermostat sticks closed (or is faulty), the engine will be overheated because the coolant won’t be able to flow through it.

The PCM will display an alert if the engine temperature gets too high when the temperature reaches a certain point.

2. Bad Electric Water Pump:

Coolant is circulated through your radiator and engine by electric water pumps.

An engine that fails its electric pump will overheat as a result of ineffective circulation of coolant.

From my own experience as a mechanic, I can tell you that water pumps frequently fail on BMWs due to the pressure of the water,

High engine temperatures in BMW vehicles are most commonly caused by the water pump, closely followed by the thermostat.

3. Defective Coolant Temperature Sensor(s):

The temperature of the coolant in your BMW is monitored by a temperature sensor. Sensors are used to provide engine temperature information to the computer in the car.

A computer can gauge engine overheating risk correctly by using accurate temperature data. Computers lack precise temperature information if the sensor malfunctions.

In such a case, the engine may be mistakenly determined to be overheating despite normal temperatures. A sensor is able to provide the computer with information that allows it to determine whether the system is overheating. Overheating determinations cannot be made with accuracy if sensor data is not accurate.

4. Low Coolant Level:

You can also get an engine temperature warning when your BMW’s thermostat malfunctions, in addition to low coolant levels.

BMWs can’t keep their engines at the normal operating temperature if the coolant reservoir is empty or nearly full.

This warning will appear on your car as a result. A simple way to check the coolant level is to check the coolant level.

Fixing and resetting BMW engine temperature warning

To conclude this article, we will provide some tips on how to deal with the hot engine temperature warning on your BMW.

1. Check the coolant level after turning off the engine

Allow your engine to cool off before turning it on again.

To determine if your BMW needs coolant topped off, check its reservoir.

Additionally, the antifreeze and distilled water levels may need to be adjusted until the desired level is reached (between the minimum and maximum).

2. Install a new coolant temperature sensor

Whenever an engine temperature warning message appears, even when the actual engine temperature is correct, this can be caused by one of the following situations:

A coolant temperature sensor might need to be replaced.

3. Check the Thermostat

You still receive an engine overheating warning despite having a good coolant level,

If you drive a Baertschi Motored Werke vehicle, you probably need to replace your thermostat.

Different models have different thermostat locations; for instance, the 3-series and 5-series thermostats will be located differently.

If you are not sure where the thermostat is located, please refer to your owner’s manual. In case you are not aware of where the thermostat is, you can ask a professional mechanic for assistance.

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